His reaction is fairly typical. Mandy's return to the cabinet has - as Gordon Brown must surely have predicted - overshadowed all the other changes made by the prime minister. It is fair to say that all are surprised by the EU commissioner's appointment as business secretary. Many are simply horrified.

Fellow Labour blogger STEF thinks Hilary Benn has been hard done by, losing climate change and getting food. As for the return of you know who: "It's probably best that I don't comment on Mandelson for fear of my blood boiling."

Derek Draper takes up the mantle on www.guardian.co.uk, writing: "He is loyal, strong and set to be a massive asset to the PM." His thanks for championing Mandelson is a first comment that asks: "Are you taking the piss?". At the time of writing there were 44 responses to Draper's blog with only one positive.

A 'big beast' has returned, who is guaranteed media airtime when he says anything. Tying him into the cabinet ensures his loyalty and should also quieten down any plotting Blairites. It's also showing unity between all strands of the party (stroppy left aside, and Cruddas might come on board yet) and by putting Mandy into the business role is provides an experienced hand to continue the work of John Hutton, who moves into Defence.

As for the rest of the reshuffle, Labourboy "feels sympathy" for Des Browne but thinks he was not aggressive enough for the role and Hutton is a good replacement. Labourboy writes that he would welcome the rumoured return of Margaret Beckett - another "big beast" - and is sorry David Blunkett is not also making a comeback. He is generally happy with the reshuffle but suspects the Tories will say Brown "has run out of ideas so he is bringing back all of Blair's old ministers".

And funnily enough, that is pretty much what the Conservatives are saying:

Wow, how bad do things need to be before that looks like a good idea? Brown clearly feel that he needs the arch-spinner back on the team. I wonder how long he'll last this time?

Guido Fawkes comments sarcastically: "Am beginning to think that Brown has been quite clever, with the return of Mandelson, he will no longer be the public's most hated Labour politician."

As with Labour bloggers, most Tories have limited themselves to writing about the day's big surprise. But on the Spectator's coffee house blog, James Forsyth opines that the appointment of Ed Miliband to head up the newly created department of Energy and Climate Change could be a canny move by the prime minister. He writes:

Gordon Brown's decision to create a new department of Energy and Climate Change and place one of his most talented protégés in charge of it is a sign that Labour plan to make a major push on the issue. This should worry the Tories.